I went to the dawn service this morning, which had a big turnout; it's great to see that Anzac day is not dying out. I would love to attend a dawn service in Gallipoli one year. Anyway I am tried now since I was up at 3am to get in and get a good spot.
Question:
What does Anzac day mean to you?
1. Another day off yay
2. A day of remembrance and reflection on the true cost of our freedom and the high price for which it was paid.
3. What the hell are we doing celebrating war and death; we were the attacker and should not have been at Gallipoli in the first place, what a waste of young lives.
For me it is number 2 but my flat mate goes for number 3 and I respect his opinion.
Photo of Simpson and his Donkey
Simpson Kirkpatrick learned all about donkeys on the sands of South Shields as a lad. During his twenty-four days of donkey trips, Simpson single handedly rescued around three hundred wounded soldiers by bringing them down Monash Valley on the backs of donkeys.
On the morning of 19 May, 42 000 Turkish soldiers launched an all-out attack against the 17 356 strong Anzac line, in attempt to drive the invaders back into the sea. The Turks were caught out in the open and lost
3 000 men with 10 000 wounded in repeated attacks over open ground. The Anzacs lost only 168 men. Jack had just collected a casualty and was coming back down Monash Valley when he was hit and killed by a machine gun bullet in the back. He was buried amongst great gloom by the soldiers who had much admired his bravery, and his grave was marked with a simple wooden cross.
Walking wounded in Shrapnel Gully,
April 26, 1915
They shall grow not old....as we that are left grow old,
Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn,
At the going down of the sun, and in the morning, we will remember them.
"LEST WE FORGET"
Question:
What does Anzac day mean to you?
1. Another day off yay
2. A day of remembrance and reflection on the true cost of our freedom and the high price for which it was paid.
3. What the hell are we doing celebrating war and death; we were the attacker and should not have been at Gallipoli in the first place, what a waste of young lives.
For me it is number 2 but my flat mate goes for number 3 and I respect his opinion.
Photo of Simpson and his Donkey
Simpson Kirkpatrick learned all about donkeys on the sands of South Shields as a lad. During his twenty-four days of donkey trips, Simpson single handedly rescued around three hundred wounded soldiers by bringing them down Monash Valley on the backs of donkeys.
On the morning of 19 May, 42 000 Turkish soldiers launched an all-out attack against the 17 356 strong Anzac line, in attempt to drive the invaders back into the sea. The Turks were caught out in the open and lost
3 000 men with 10 000 wounded in repeated attacks over open ground. The Anzacs lost only 168 men. Jack had just collected a casualty and was coming back down Monash Valley when he was hit and killed by a machine gun bullet in the back. He was buried amongst great gloom by the soldiers who had much admired his bravery, and his grave was marked with a simple wooden cross.
Walking wounded in Shrapnel Gully,
April 26, 1915
They shall grow not old....as we that are left grow old,
Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn,
At the going down of the sun, and in the morning, we will remember them.
"LEST WE FORGET"
VIEW 21 of 21 COMMENTS
i have to say to me ANZAC has always been a combination of 1 and 2. Mind you this year us Victorian's were all at work on the Monday so the holiday part didn't come into it this year...ah well! It is not all about the holiday and I definately spent some reflection time on the Sunday...I try to spend at least a little time doing that every year.
anyway im off for the time being im buggered as we started moving into our new place...and tomorrow we are off work so we are moving all the big stuff....exciting stuff!
chat soon
KPK xoxox